Ian Watkins appeal: As it happened account of singer's failed attempt to reduce jail term

The paedophile rocker, 36, and of one his co-accused asked for permission to appeal against their sentences

Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins appeared in court today asking to appeal his sentence for a string of sexual offences.

The disgraced star, who admitted a string of sex offences including two attempts to rape a baby, was ordered to serve 29 years in jail and a further six on licence when he was sentenced in December 2013.

The 36-year-old first lodged an application to appeal in January and now has the chance to make his case in court.

He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court today before a panel of judges who will decide whether he can take the appeal further.

One of his female co-defendants - who cannot be named for legal reasons - also sought leave to appeal.

10.26am

The Lostprophets frontman will appear in court today asking to appeal his sentence for a string of sexual offences against babies.

Ian Watkins, who admitted a string of sexual offences including two attempts to rape a baby, was ordered to serve 29 years in jail and six on licence when he was sentenced in December 2013.

The 36-year-old first lodged an application to appeal in January and now has the chance to make his case in court.

10.58am

When he was jailed last December Watkins was described a "determined and committed paedophile".

The singer had initially "furiously denied" the allegations against him but later admitted a host of offences.

After Watkins was sentenced Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle of South Wales Police described his actions as "the most shocking and harrowing child abuse evidence I've ever seen".

11.14am`

Journalists are starting to gather outside Cardiff Crown Court. There are currently two broadcast vans parked outside, surrounded by cameramen, reporters and photographers.

Watkins is due to appear in Court 2 at 12pm and the press bench is starting to fill up.

11.17am

Watkins' case will be heard by three judges - Mrs Justice Ingrid Simler, Lord Justice Pitchford and Mr Justice Griffith Williams. They are currently hearing another case, which is due to end within the next hour.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle, of South Wales Police, appealed at the time for any other victims to come forward and added: "There is no doubt in my mind that Ian Watkins exploited his celebrity status in order to abuse young children."

His concerns were echoed by Des Mannion, NSPCC Wales national head of service, who said: "Ian Watkins clearly had a dangerous obsession with the most severe and extreme forms of child sex abuse. His global public profile provided him with access to impressionable young women who he was able to manipulate to feed his horrific desires."

11.33am

Although the 36-year-old is not challenging his 13 sex offence convictions at today's hearing, the disgraced rock star believes he was too harshly sentenced by judge Mr Justice Royce. Watkins was handed a minimum 29-year jail term, as well as an additional six years on licence.

Originally, Watkins had pleaded his innocence to a string of offences, but he changed his plea at the last minute - averting a trial.

Among the offences he pleaded guilty to was the attempted rape of an 11-month-old child, as well as encouraging a fan to abuse her baby via webcam.

“I am satisfied that you are a deeply corrupting influence, you are highly manipulative, you are a sexual predator, you are dangerous.

“The public and, in particular, young females need protection from you.”

11.40am

It is not yet known whether Watkins - who appeared bloated and had his once jet-black hair in a grey quiff at his last court date - will be appearing in person, via video link or not at all for today's hearing.

He is currently serving his sentence in Long Lartin Prison in Worcestershire, which also houses Ian Huntley.

11.47am

Watkins' two female co-defendants, Woman A and Woman B, were jailed for 14 years and 16 years respectively after admitting a number of charges.

Woman B is due to have her appeal bid heard at Cardiff Crown Court today alongside Watkins. The 24-year-old, who is from Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to conspiring to rape a child, three sexual assault charges and four charges of taking, possessing or distributing indecent images.

Neither of the women involved can be named for legal reasons.

11.52am

The judges are still hearing the previous case but another seven journalists just walked into the courtroom ahead of the Watkins hearing.

There are now 10 reporters on the press bench. The three benches of the public gallery are full too.

After admitting abusing children, including babies, in court the paedophile added: "I don't know what everyone is getting worked up about."

He also claimed he was not a paedophile but was pleading guilty to avoid a trial.

Watkins made two phone calls to a female friend from Parc Prison in Bridgend after his guilty pleas.

On November 27, the day after he admitted he was a paedophile, he said of the court hearing: "It was, like, either me go up there and say 'Come on, it wasn't that bad, nobody got hurt', I do my charm. Or do I end up making things worse for myself? Or do I just say I was off my head and can't remember?"

Discussing his possible sentence, he added: "I'm going to put a statement on [December] 18th now just to say it was megalolz, I don't know what everyone is getting so freaked out about."

In 2008, he became the ambassador for the Kidney Wales Foundation and posed with children and staff at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

His band Lostprophets headlined a special one-off concert on New Year’s Eve where he urged fans to sign the NHS Organ Donor Register in a bid to increase the numbers of organs available for transplant.

Speaking in 2008, Watkins said: “I had a great time meeting all the kids at the [hospital].

“Lots of the children ... are waiting for a kidney transplant, but there’s a desperate shortage of donors. That’s why we need more people to join the Organ Donor Register and help save a life one day.”

12.10pm

The previous hearing has now ended and the judges have left the court. We are expecting the Watkins appeal hearing to start in the next few minutes.

There are now 11 journalists here and latecomers are being allowed to sit in the jury box on the other side of the court room.

12.13pm

All three judges have just returned to the court and the hearing is getting underway. The judges are now discussing reporting restrictions to prevent the children involved in the case from being named.

12.16pm

Watkins representative Sally O' Neill QC is setting out the case to the court and outlining the bid for him to be allowed to appeal.

She has told the panel of three judges hearing the case: "I accept that the matters are very serious."

12.18pm

Ian Watkins is not in court for today's hearing and is not following the proceedings via videolink from Long Lartin prison in Worcestershire, where he is understood to be serving his jail sentence.

12.22pm

Ms O'Neill is arguing that the 10% discount in sentencing given by Mr Justice Simon Royce for Watkins' guilty pleas was insufficient.

She said: "I am in no way trying to minimise the gravity of these offences. I simply maintain that a sense of proportion needs to be maintained."

She accepts her submission may be "unwelcome" but believes it to be "valid".

12.25pm

Sally O'Neill is continuing to outline her submissions to the panel of judges on the sentence handed down to Ian Watkins.

She has argued that the starting point for sentencing was too high and claims that the "totality" of the sentence was not appropriate.

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